Thiruvananthapuram: High Command KPCC President K Sreedharan has asked the party to nominate new faces to replace those who got various opportunities in the Parliament and Assembly elections. It was suggested to Sudhakaran in Delhi that his candidature in the Rajya Sabha would lead the way in the state Congress. That’s how JB Mather came into the discussion as one of the names that had not come up in the discussions till then. Sudhakaran arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday night from Delhi. During the meeting with Satheesan, the discussion on the new names was moved on the basis of the Delhi proposal.
Many of the names already considered were discussed at the two meetings. Consideration of women, youth, non-competitive, and minority community members raised JB’s acceptance. With this, it was agreed to submit the panel giving priority to JB’s name to the High Command. After the announcement of JB’s name by the High Command, there was no significant uproar in the state Congress. The A and I groups and those hoping for a seat generally agreed with the High Command’s decision. The Congress leadership hopes that this will be the first time that a Muslim woman has been elected to the Rajya Sabha from the state.
Shanimol Usman, m. Liju, Satheesan Pacheni, VT Balram and other youngsters are also KV. Thomas, M.M. JB Mehta won the Rajya Sabha seat that senior leaders like Hasan wanted. JB’s rise to prominence comes in the wake of allegations that the party is ostracizing women, including in the last assembly elections. Latika Subhash, the president of the Mahila Congress, was beheaded at the KPCC headquarters during the last assembly elections over the denial of seats. The incident left Congress exhausted in the aftermath of the election. Coincidentally, JB is Latika’s successor to the post of Women’s Congress president.
Senior leader A.K. JB is going to the Rajya Sabha as his successor to the seat vacated by Antony. JB Mather is also a member of the family closely associated with Antony. While having good relations with the A faction, JB has not distanced itself from the new leadership. Apart from being the chairperson of the Mahila Congress, it has also been instrumental in securing the Rajya Sabha seat.